Elevated chemicals found in water near reactor

FULTON (AP) - The owner of Missouri's only commercial nuclear reactor is reporting elevated chemical levels near its Callaway County plant.

Ameren Missouri has told the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission that water samples from a new groundwater monitoring well at its Callaway plant show levels of radioactive tritium and Cobalt-60 higher than those found in drinking water.

The test results were publicized by the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, which opposes the utility's efforts to expand its nuclear power production.

The utility has told the NRC that it stopped discharging treated water from the plant into the affected area after results from the July 25 test became known. The company said in a prepared statement that the elevated levels don't affect public drinking water supplies.